Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner reacts as a giraffe tugs him over the guard rope during an outing at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla. on Saturday. Gardner will start at quarterback Tuesday against South Carolina.Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- Four quarterbacks will play Tuesday in the Outback Bowl.

For Michigan, coach Brady Hoke confirmed what was expected: Junior Devin Gardner will start at quarterback, and senior Denard Robinson will complement him.

"It's how we ended the year," Hoke said Monday morning during a news conference at the Wyndham Westshore Hotel in Tampa. "Devin will be the starting quarterback and Denard will play some quarterback. It's really how we finished the year, the last four ballgames."

Robinson rewrote the Michigan record books as a three-year starter at quarterback, but he was replaced by Gardner for the past four games after damaging the ulnar never in his throwing elbow against Nebraska.

He missed two games, then spent the past two rotating between tailback, receiver and quarterback. He has not attempted a pass since the injury, although says his arm strength has improved during bowl prep.

For South Carolina, Spurrier reaffirmed that Connor Shaw will make the start and be the primary quarterback, but Dylan Thompson also will see the field.

Shaw has been the primary quarterback this season, but missed the finale against Clemson due to a foot injury. Thompson passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Gamecocks to a 27-17 win in the rivalry game.

But Spurrier says Shaw has returned to health and will be the primary quarterback.

"Connor Shaw's been our starter, and I always sort of believed you should tell one guy it's his game, unless he gets hurt or something goes terribly wrong and you have to make a change," Spurrier said during a joint news conference with Hoke. "But Connor's been our starter pretty much all year, we all feel he's 100 percent healthy, so right now, we're going into it that it's his game. 'It's your game. Let's go. Don't worry about making a mistake and getting jumped out.'

"Dylan's going to play in there somewhere, but again, I just believe it's important to tell one guy, 'Hey, you're going to be the quarterback, as long as you play well.' So that's where we are right now."